Chemistry and Dynamics of the Venus and Mars Atmospheres from Sub-mm Observations

AST 0607493Clancy 对金星和火星的毫米和亚毫米谱线观测支持对这些限制我们陆地标准的独特行星大气的化学和动力学的基础研究。具体来说，此类观测产生痕量成分检测、多普勒风测定以及大气变化的长期特征，而这些仍然超出了行星航天器任务的范围。针对火星和金星的活跃地面观测计划数量有限，但由于美国宇航局任务重点关注这些行星的表面环境，因此获得了不成比例的大气结果。例如，美国宇航局最后一次带有大量大气成分的金星任务是1978年发射的先锋金星轨道飞行器。同样，美国宇航局第一次带有专用大气探测器的火星任务计划于2006年进入轨道。因此，全球温度、冰和尘埃气溶胶负载以及光化学方面的巨大轨道变化的关键发现以及这些耦合变化在火星当前和（可能）过去的气候中所起的作用是通过地球毫米波谱和成像而不是火星航天器观测。金星大气中通过其巨大的低层大气进行近红外窗口的关键发现均源自美国宇航局金星专门任务活动长期中断期间的地球观测。凭借这一奖项，克兰西博士将对积累的敏感测量数据进行光谱分析，这些测量结果特别适合研究金星硫酸云层上方动态和化学时间可变的中层大气（中间层），以及尚未探索的火星大气中间层的辐射动力学状态。在资助期间，夏威夷的詹姆斯·克拉克·麦克斯韦望远镜将获得新的观测结果，其分析将被整合到广泛的现有数据集中。克兰西博士将通过参加空间科学研究所 (SSI) 的火星探索和外星地球博物馆展览，向公众和教育界传播比较行星学的更广泛背景。 SSI 为活跃的太空科学研究人员与多学科教育和公共外展 (EPO) 从业者之间的直接内部合作提供了独特的环境***

AST 0607493ClancyMillimeter and sub-millimeter spectral line observations of Venus and Mars support fundamental investigations of the chemistry and dynamics for these distinctive planetary atmospheres bounding our terrestrial standard. Specifically, such observations yield trace constituent detections, Doppler wind determinations, and long-term characterizations of atmospheric variability that remain beyond the scope of planetary spacecraft missions. Active ground-based observation programs for Mars and Venus are limited in number, yet obtain disproportionate atmospheric results due to the emphasis of NASA missions on the surface environments of these planets. For example, the last NASA mission to Venus with a substantial atmospheric component was the Pioneer Venus orbiter launched in 1978. Similarly, the first NASA mission to Mars with a dedicated atmospheric sounder is scheduled to achieve orbit in 2006. As a result, the key discovery of large orbital variations in global temperatures, ice and dust aerosol loading, and photochemistry and the role these coupled variations play in the current and (possibly) past climate of Mars was revealed by earth-based millimeter spectroscopy and imaging rather than Mars spacecraft observations. The key Venus atmospheric discoveries of near-IR windows through its massive lower atmosphere all originated from earth-based observations over a long-standing hiatus in dedicated Venus NASA mission activity. With this award, Dr. Clancy will carry out spectroscopic analyses of an accumulated body of sensitive measurements uniquely appropriate to the investigation of the dynamically and chemically time variable middle atmosphere (mesosphere) above the sulfuric acid cloud layers of Venus, and to the radiative dynamical state of the poorly explored mesosphere of the Mars atmosphere. New observations will be obtained with the James Clark Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii over the course of the grant period and their analysis will be integrated into the extensive existing data set.The broader context of comparative planetology will be disseminated to the public and educational community through Dr. Clancys participation in the Mars Quest and Alien Earths museum exhibits at the Space Science Institute (SSI). SSI provides a unique environment of direct in-house collaborations between active space science researchers and multi-disciplined Education and Public Outreach (EPO) practitioners***